Magazine

Scholarships, Grant Aid STEM Teachers and CyberPatriots

The Alamo chapter's Scholarships and Educational Grants committee capped a busy spring and summer with several check presentations in July. Two recent college graduates, Ziomara Blanco and Catherine Davison, took home $5,000 each after winning STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Teachers Scholarships, and the local Civil Air Patrol unit received more than $6,500 to assist with costs of a new CyberPatriot boot camp initiative debuting this year in San Antonio. The STEM Teachers Scholarships are offered through the AFCEA Educational Foundation (with funding from several industry partners and regional chapters) to students seeking degrees or licensure to teach STEM subjects at a U.S. middle or secondary school. Blanco, who was among the 2014 AFCEA International scholarship winners announced earlier this year, is a recent University of Houston graduate with degrees in biology, education and psychology and a 3.7 GPA. She is the first member of her family to finish college. She current works as a dental assistant, and volunteers as a teacher at the Godwin community center in San Antonio. Davison, who won a STEM Teachers Scholarship sponsored by the chapter, graduated summa cum laude with a degree in math from Trinity University. She was named to the university's Dean's List for six consecutive semesters, and was twice named a Trinity University Scholar. She is now pursuing a master's degree. Separately, board members presented a $6,610 grant to the local Civil Air Patrol unit, which is standing up a new week-long boot camp for high school students who plan to take part in the annual CyberPatriots competition. Commander Jacob Stauffer noted that many middle schools and high schools in the San Antonio area have formalized training programs that give competitors a boost in the competition. The Civil Air Patrol and 24th Air Force, recognizing a need for others, have established a new CyberDefense Training Academy (one of six in the U.S.). About 40 applicants from around the country have been accepted for the debut boot camp in San Antonio. The Alamo grant will help to provide food, lodging and transportation for the cyber cadets. Also in July, the chapter paid tribute to its 2014 industry partners, whose sponsorship of monthly luncheons allows government and military personnel to attend for free, adding value to business efforts and networking. Sponsorship coins were distributed to representatives of Lockheed-Martin, LMI, Diligent Consulting, KGS, SecureInfo, NCI and SRA International.

Event Photographs:

Catherine Davison (l) and Ziomara Blanco each received $5,000 STEM Teachers Scholarship checks at the Alamo chapter's luncheon in July. Blanco was named one of the 2014 STEM Teachers Scholarship winners by AFCEA International and Davison received a similar honor at the chapter level.

Jacob Stauffer (c), commander of Alamo region Civil Air Patrol unit, receives a $6,610 grant to support a new CyberPatriot training initiative from Keith Jordan, chapter vice president of scholarships and grants (l) and Chapter President Bill Morrow in July.